The role of falconers in Saker Falcon conservation
Photo: A Dixon
The Saker Falcon has the distinction of being the only member of its genus to be classified as ‘Globally Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List. Whether the Saker deserves this dubious accolade is a moot point, and it could be argued that its listing by BirdLife International as ‘Endangered’ may be due in part to its importance in Arabian falconry and not just its conservation status. Certainly, an ‘Endangered Saker’ is a big stick that can be used to beat falconry. Falconry is widely blamed for the demise of the species in Russia and the former Soviet states in Central Asia. In particular, Arabian falconry is blamed for creating a seemingly insatiable market demand that drives a rampant illegal trade. There is no doubt that illegal trade of wild Sakers is a stain on the image of falconry, particularly Arabian falconry, that falconers must strive to resolve, but its relative importance in driving the post-Soviet era population declines is not known and there is a tendency to overlook the role of other factors such as habitat changes, declines in prey availability and electrocution at electricity distribution lines. Influential falconers in Abu Dhabi have demonstrated that modern Arabian falconry can be conducted sustainably and even benefit wild falcons, their quarry and their natural habitats. The connection with nature that results from the pursuit of quarry with a falcon fuels the desire to protect the
Saker Falcon electrocuted at 15 kV in Eastern Mongolia
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Summer 2015 • International Journal of Falconry
Photo: A Dixon
By Andrew Dixon International Wildlife Consultants Ltd
Saker Falcon at artificial nest in Mongolia
natural world and is the root of major funding initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which targets on-the-ground practical conservation efforts for threatened species. Similarly, it is the tradition of falconry that lies at the root of support by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi for a project like Arkive, which strives to increase awareness of our natural world and its conservation through wildlife imagery. The IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group and the CMS Raptors MoU have their headquarters in Abu Dhabi; this is no mere co-incidence, it is a consequence of falconry. Concern for the well-being of the natural world, the conservation management of quarry species such as the Houbara and custodianship of vast areas of natural habitat in places like Morocco and Kazakhstan are all spearheaded by influential Arabian falconers and are directly related